UA responds to the PM’s new education reform proposals

Commenting on the package of education reforms announced today by the Prime Minister Theresa May, including a requirement for universities who want to charge higher fees to establish a new school or sponsor an existing underperforming school, University Alliance Chief Executive Maddalaine Ansell said:

“There is a broad consensus that the most significant barrier to progress in widening access is differential attainment rates at ages 16 and 18; universities should be part of the solution to this alongside many others, and we are committed to playing our part. There are already examples of Alliance universities collaborating with others to boost educational attainment in schools, and more of these partnerships are under development.

“We should also remember the key debate here is about selection in the secondary system – if implemented, this might well make the task of widening access to higher education much harder, and the case for allowing it is unconvincing.”